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[Page 23]
(5)
The sooner all these Officials are away from here the easier it will be for the Administration.
With regard to the Lands and Survey work, the office is at Herbertshohe, where a lot of important plans, documents, and instrument are kept.
I am having these all put in order, under an Officer I have placed in charge. I am also continuing the services of one Surveyor and one Draftsman temporarily to finish plotting field work already completed, and to furnish the Officer in charge with information on other matters,
Captain Manning is obtaining all information as to Legal work, and to assist him I have temporarily retained the services of two German Officials.
Post Offices have been established at Rabaul and Herbertshohe and connected by telephone. All the most important Offices and Headquarters are also connected to the small Central Exchange.
A small quantity of stamps found here I am having printed "G.R.I." and they will be utilized. I have already applied for Stamps from Australia. A full code of Postal instructions would also be of service.
The organization of the native Police and Armed Constabulary, and also Torin Boys for sanitary work is well in hand.
The water supply just now is a serious problem. there has been no rain for about 5 months, consequently tanks are nearly dry and the population is depending on wells. The Director of Works has erected a condenser plant, near the wharf, which is doing good work, and every precaution is taken to economize. The rainy season is expected at any time.
All troops are housed in well suited barracks, sanitation being under Medical supervision, and precautions taken against the rainy season are very thorough.
With the exception of one case of pneumonia, there has not been a single case of serious illness since leaving Australia. The Hospitals at Rabaul and Herbertshohe are empty. The work of Captain Maquire, A.M.C., is reported by the P.M.C. to have been most excellent.
It is very unlikely there will be much revenue on account of the disturbed conditions of trade and commerce.
The Poll Tax will yield very little, as the Natives cannot earn money on account of the plantations being idle and low price of copra. There is plenty of copra on the plantations, but it cannot be got away, and if it could there would really be little demand, so Planters are simply "standing by".